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FRANKLIN- Fire activity on the Nantahala Ranger District has caused officials to close several more trails along the Appalachian Trail and roads, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

By Thursday night, the Appalachian Trail from the Nantahala River to Burningtown Gap was closed due to a new fire that started in the afternoon. The Tellico Fire is actively burning in that area. The closure also includes Wesser Creek Trail in the same area.

The Appalachian Trail has been closed from Rock Gap to Winding Stairs Gap. Old 64 Murphy Road was closed from its west junction of U.S. 64 to Forest Service Road 67 leading to Standing Indian Campground. Rock Gap may be accessed from the south by going through Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Closures have resulted from the Knob Creek Fire that started on Wednesday.

The Knob Fire has burned more than 250 acres and crews were completing and improving containment lines Thursday.

No structures were threatened and the campground is open.

Bartram Trail was closed between Wine Springs Bald and Nantahala Lake due to the Wine Spring Fire.

The Wine Spring Fire on the mountain above Dirty John Shooting Range was reported Wednesday morning and was not threatening any structures, according to spokeswoman Deanna Younger with the U.S. Forest Service. Helicopter support and ground crews were fighting the blaze that was estimated to be more than five acres. Crews quickly constructed containment lines and began burnout operations to prevent the fire from spreading.

By Thursday acreage had increased to around 100 acres and firefighters were strengthening fire lines, she said.

Bartram Trail, from Hickory Knoll Road to State Highway 106, will remain closed through this weekend due to mop up operations and potential hazard assessments from the Jones Gap Fire, which started Oct. 29.